Clothesline prop



Aug- 29, `1944. F. ARowsMrn-l 2,356,908

CLOTHES LINE ROP Filed Aug. 7*, 1945 Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITEDl STATES `lATEINIT OFFICE 2,356,908 oLo'rHEsLINE PROP Forrest Arrowsinith, Munster, Ind.

Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,817

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes line props, an object of the invention being to provide a clothes line supporting device so made that a line held thereby will not slip and will be held in a manner so as to prevent accidental falling or blowing down of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clothes line prop made up of a long rod element and an adjustably secured head element adapted to grip the line for rigidly holding the same a predetermined distance above the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for securing the head element of my invention to a line so rigidly in order that the same may hold the line against accidental displacement in every direction or movement in a horizontal plane.

A further object of my invention is to provide an invention of the aforementioned character which is practical in its construction and operation, strong and durable invuse, and of such simple construction as to enable manufacture on a production basis with economy.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described, like numerals being used to designate like parts in the various views, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing my invention resting on the ground surface and attached to a line which is to be supported at a distance from the ground.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the detailed structure of the head element comprising an important part of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational enlarged view showing the gripping portion of my invention in the head element and also the method of securing the head element to the rod element both comprising my invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View looking in the direction of line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring, more particularly, to the general structure of my invention, 5 designates a pole which is suitably pointed at the bottom to enable the same to be securely and removably anchored to the ground surface. The head element generally designated 1 is secured thereto by means of suitably securing elements as shown or any other suitable securing means, other than the method indicated.

The clothes line rod element 5 is undercut at I8 in order to receive the undercut portion I6 of the head element 1 in lapped relationship; the.

said undercut portion I6 being provided with a number of drilled openings to receivethe bodies of the rivets I9 which secure the head element 1 to the rod 5.

It is to be noted that flexible or resilient washer elements I8 are to be used so as to permit the rivet I9 to hold the head element 1 and rod element 5 in frictional engaging relationship, inasmuch as the head element is provided with elongated slots 20 to permit some slight adjustment if that should be necessary when the clothes line prop is placed in engagement with a clothes line 6 as indicated in the drawing.

The head element 1 which comprises the main structural element of my invention, is provided with a dome-shaped top portion 8 which is convenient for gripping in the hand when it is necessary to make the adjustment heretofore mentioned, and also for purposes when it is desired to place the line 6 in rigid holding engagement within the arcuately and angularly-shaped slot 9 as will hereinafter be elucidated.

The slot 9 is shaped as shown, being made up of an angularly shaped portion having sides II and an apex or nose portion I0. The said side surfaces II being under-cut as shown at I2, and the upper portion of the slot enclosure 9 being designated shape, is provided with downward sloping* side portion substantially parallel to the surface II, the arcuate portion being cut slightly sloping toward the apex or nose portion I0 in a downward direction, and the bottom of the slotted portion 9 being undercut at the point I4 thus providing holding or retaining prongs I5, so that when the line 6 is placed in engaging relationship with the head element 1, the line 6 being of a diameter which will wedge in between the surfaces confined between lines I3 and I4 and the apex or nose portion II! will afford a rigid holding at the central point, whereas the tautness of the line 6 causing it to assume the position indicated in Figures 2 and 3, whereby the retaining portions I5 will thus .serve to hold the line securely and prevent the same from being accidentally displaced when the said pole is moved about by the wind or current, hence preventing displacement in any direction in any plane substantially parallel to the ground surface.

To disengage the line 6 from the head element 1 or its slotted portion 9, it is merely necessary to raise the rod 5 and the head element 1 carried thereby in a vertical or upward direction, causing the line 6 to flex and assume the approximate shape of the slotted portion 9 whence it can be I3 which is somewhat arcuate inY readily removed from engagement and the pole put aside for future use. l

Thus it can be seen that I have provided a clothes line prop or support of a simple and inexpensive construction which is efcient in its operation and durable in construction. The head element 1 may be made of a plasitc material, wood, metal such as aluminum, brass, iron or any other desirable material which Will serve the purpose and furnish a durable structure.

Altho, I have herein described and revealed rather succinctly the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, and inasmuch as I believe it susceptible of many alterations, I reserve the right to all such modifications, alterations and improvements coming Within the scope and spirit of my invention and Within the pur- View of the hereinabove description; my invention to be limited only by the subjoined claims Having thus described and disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desirelto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, line securing means having a slotted portion arcuately shaped at the center and terminating in out- Wardly divergent portions forming a central nose portion, the said slotted portion having its upper portion undercut at the ends to provide locking teeth adapted to cooperate with said nose portion to hold a line securely in place When the said line is taut.

2. A clothes line prop comprising, a rod element and a head element secured thereto in resilient and frictionally adjustable relationship, the said head element having a body portion, a transversal slotted portion of angular formation defining a central nose portion in said body portion, the said slotted portion undercut at its upper ends deiining teeth adapted to cooperate with said nose portion to hold a line When the said line is taut.

FORREST ARR/OWSMITH` 

